How to Lay Sod to Start and New Lawn

We benefit more from lawns more than we can imagine. Aside from improving air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and giving us oxygen, they also trap dust and dirt. Planting seeds can require a longer time before growing. Also, consider the uncertainties in its germination. Meanwhile, sod or turf is professionally grown, so you won’t have to worry about its health. Opting for sods allows the soil to rest and improve while preventing soil erosion. Here are guidelines on resodding a lawn. Ensure that you do these steps to avoid problems later on.

1. Prepare the things you will need for resodding a lawn

• Protective outfit
• Soil tester
• Measuring tape
• Rototiller 
• Shovel/Rake
• Hose/sprayer/sprinkler
• Organic matter
• Sharp knife (such as carpet knife)
• Lawn roller

2. Test your soil

You might be wondering why seeds sprout or your plants die easily. Unacceptable pH levels in your soil could cause this situation. The right pH level for soil is between 6 and 7.5 to ensure that it is well aerated. Before resodding a lawn, make sure to check its soil pH level.

3. Measure your area before you resodding a lawn

You’ll need this step to know how many sods you need. Put into mind that you might be demanding extra pieces to fill in corners or gaps.

4. Till your soil

A rototiller is an efficient machine to use and will lessen your work time and effort. Till the soil by hand, putting in mind that this will require too much from your time and energy. Loosen the soil 6 – 8 inches deep. Till in 2 – 3 inches of organic matter into the soil to improve aeration and water retention.

In resodding a lawn, ensure that there are no grounded plants in the soil since you don’t want to see weeds to destroy your newly laid down turf. Make sure grass or weeds are uplifted and dead.  If you are going to add topsoil, it is safe to apply no more than an inch and a half or depend on the soil’s needs.

5. Level your soil 

Do not leave uneven areas before resodding a lawn. Level the soil fairly using a shovel or rake.

6. Water your soil 

Make sure to water the soil no less than 48 hours before laying down the sod.

7. Lay the sod

Resodding a lawn isn’t just like laying out a rug or a mat. Fairly lay down the sod starting from the edge. Pat it down to flatten out air pockets. Air pockets in your sod result in dead patches. 

You can use a sod roller to ensure that it’s all flattened out. Lay sods in rows and lay it down alternately like how bricks are positioned. You need to ensure that the edges are tight and flattened to avoid soil exposure. 

Do not overlap the sod to avoid an uneven lawn. If you see a sod looks low, consider putting topsoil under it. Think of your routes while working to avoid stepping on the newly laid sod. If you have stepped down, rake it out to remove the footprints.

8. Fill in the gaps 

Check out for the corners or crevices. Measure the openings and fill them with sod.

9. Open irrigation heads

Use a lawn edger to cut curves and a carpet knife to slice openings around irrigation heads and other lumps. Cutting the sod could be difficult to cut due to its thickness.

10. Fill in seams

Fill in the seams using topsoil or potting soil, and push broom. Don’t lift loose turf edges.

11. Push down the sod

Use a lawn roller to push sod roots into the soil.

12. Water your newly laid down sod

By the first week, water the sod three times a day. Then you can taper it off to just twice a week. To ensure that your watering is enough, try to strip up a little portion of the corner of the sod. It will not break the lawn. The soil should be damp, not too wet, and not too dry.

13. Don’t mow your lawn immediately. 

One needs to wait a week and a half or longer before mowing your lawn to avoid removing the laid turf.

14. Fertilize the lawn

Apply a starter fertilizer to replenish the soil’s nutrients.

If you skip out just one of these guidelines, you might be wasting your money and effort in resodding your lawn. Properly resodding a lawn might be tiring for a day or two, but you will reap the rewards from your hard work. Enjoy looking at your fresh-looking lawn turning into dark green (or depending upon the turf’s natural color) and observe how the lines between the sod slowly disappear.

Scotts 09127 Turf Builder Starter Lawn Food 24-25-4